antenna

Language: en

🇬🇧 /æˈntɛnə/ 🇺🇸 /æˈntɛnə/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A device, typically consisting of a metal rod or wire, used for transmitting or receiving radio waves or other electromagnetic signals.; Either of a pair of long, thin sensory appendages on the heads of insects, crustaceans, and some other arthropods, used for sensing the environment.; An intuitive faculty or sensitivity to something, such as public opinion or changing trends.; In botany, a bristle-like appendage or awn found on certain plant structures, such as the tip of a lemma in some grasses.; In anatomy, a slender sensory process or projection on certain organisms, analogous to the antennae of arthropods.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: antennas, antennae

Collocations

satellite antennaTV antennaradio antennaantenna arrayraise one's antennae

Derivatives

antennalantennaryantennule

Synonyms

aerialreceiversensorfeelers

Commonly confused

aerial
EN: 'Aerial' is the British English equivalent of 'antenna' for radio/TV reception devices; 'antenna' is preferred in American English and in biological contexts (insect appendages).

Spelling tips

EN: The plural has two accepted forms: 'antennas' (common in everyday and technical use) and 'antennae' (preferred in biological/scientific contexts). Both are correct.

💬 Examples

  1. The satellite antenna on the roof receives signals from orbiting satellites.

  2. The butterfly waved its antennae to detect chemical signals in the air.

  3. A good journalist has antennae for detecting stories before they break.

  4. The grass species can be identified by the distinctive antenna on its lemma.

  5. The marine worm extended its antennae to sense vibrations in the water.